Oversupply of pork and low prices behind recent shut down of hog operations

It’s always unfortunate to hear of a hog barn closing anywhere in Canada.

That from Saskatchewan Pork Development Board general manager Mark Ferguson on Olymel’s decision to shutter five operations.

Reacting to Olymel’s recent closures of sow units in Quebec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, Ferguson said the actions are the result of extremely tight margins in the hog industry both today and what’s been going on over the past few years.

“From what I understand these are temporary depopulations that are just meant to be in effect until the industry returns to more profitable times,” Ferguson said. “So, ultimately, we think all these units will be eventually repopulated.”